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HopStop Trip Planner

Another tool in the trip-planning toolbox: I was forwarded an email about a month ago about a new online trip planner for the Washington, DC area: HopStop. HopStop doesn't provide driving directions, just transit, biking and walking. I notice that the transit directions include Arlington's ART bus system, which Google Transit doesn't have yet. There are links to restaurants and shopping near your route, and it tells you what the cab fare should be. Free apps are available for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry, but I'm told the apps don't include bike directions yet (as of a month ago), but that they're coming.

They're looking for feedback on the bike directions. If you have any, post it here, and I'll pass it along or ask their rep to join the forum.

Last edited by Joe Chapline; 10-05-2011 at 06:42 PM.
Reason: Corrected name "HopStop"

I put in my regular bike commute which takes me from 4mile run to MVT to Wilson Bridge but the directions actually had me not only missing all the trails in the area but it wanted me to ride in the HOV lane of I-395. I guess being on two wheels I'm allowed in HOV? Just like motorcycles right? )

Seems like a nice tool but maybe a little work to do on the bike directions.

My directions home we accurate, but just not as smart as google maps are. Route was the shortest, most direct route, but didn't take into account hills I like to avoid or avoiding close contact with cars. Prior to google bike directions, it took me 2 months to come up with my best route. When google bike directions came out, it was exactly my route with the exception of a 1/8 mile stretch of road.

Thanks so much for trying out our biking directions and for the feedback! I've forwarded this thread to the rest of our team so we can look into the issues you've pointed out. If there are any specific addresses that our system had trouble finding, or weird routes please feel free to send details to me at alex@hopstop.com so we can take a closer look.

Thanks again! I'll follow up when I have more news on my end, but if you have any more feedback keep posting it here. Very much appreciated

Originally Posted by hencio

My directions home we accurate, but just not as smart as google maps are. Route was the shortest, most direct route, but didn't take into account hills I like to avoid or avoiding close contact with cars.

You're right, our system doesn't take hills into account just yet but we do aim to provide the most direct route.

Originally Posted by eminva

One downside is that it did not tell you how far you have to go on each street.

Good suggestion, thanks Liz!

Originally Posted by paulg

I put in my regular bike commute which takes me from 4mile run to MVT to Wilson Bridge but the directions actually had me not only missing all the trails in the area but it wanted me to ride in the HOV lane of I-395. I guess being on two wheels I'm allowed in HOV? Just like motorcycles right? )

So sorry about that! Would you mind sending your start and ending addresses to me at alex@hopstop.com? We should be prioritizing trails but it looks like we need to update our info for Washington DC. Thanks for bringing this to our attention!

Originally Posted by vvill

Yeah it's not too accurate. It seems like it ignores bike paths. It had me on Lee Hwy to Lynn St and Key Bridge, never on the Custis.

Sorry for that! We'll check our data to see why we're not including Custis in our biking routes. Thanks!